Breaker strip construction



July 7, 1953 L. H. HINKEL.

BREAzR STRIP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 14, 1951 f' 'I 5I/Infor laffe?" dl. f/inkel PQA Q C).

Patented July 7, 1953 y RE'AKER STRIP CONSTRUCTION Lester Ii.y Hinkel, Evansville, Ind., assigno'r to International Harvester Company, a corporation of vN ew Jersey I Application J 14, 1951,v Serial No. 236,720

' 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to an improved breaker strip construction and more particularly to a breaker strip member which connects the inner and outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet; In the conventional household refrigerator cabinet, the inner liner and outer shell usually terminate in spaced apart edges around the periphery of the door opening with a breaker strip member bridging across these edges. The breaker strip member acts as a heat break member and also provides a finished appearance to the cabinet. Since the temperature of the inner liner is considerably lower than the temperature of the outer shell, the breaker strip should be constructed so that it willconduct las small a quantity of heat as possible. lIt is common to provide the inner liner and outer shell with inturned flanges to which the breaker strip is secured by clip members. In the manufacture of such a cabinet, the insulating material which is positioned between the walls of the inner liner and outer shell usually terminates at the inturned flanges so that the breaker strip must be as fiat as possible in order to avoid the formation of a large air space between the breaker strip and insulating material. If this airspace is large, the difference in temperaturesof the inner liner and outer shell will cause convectional air currents to ilowv in the space and large heat lossesjwill result. Thepresent inventionprovides a breaker strip which meets the above mentioned requirements.

One object of the present invention is to prov vide a refrigerator cabinet with a breaker strip member which connects the spaced apart cabinet walls and acts as a heat break member therebetween.

Another object of the invention ris to provide the refrigerator cabinet with a breaker strip member which is positioned in closeV proximity to insulating material disposed between the spaced apart walls so that only a small air space is enclosed by the breaker strip member.

Another object of the invention is to provide the refrigerator cabinet with spacer members for maintaining the edges of the outer shell and inner liner in spaced relationship.

Another object 'of the invention'is to provide novel means for securing the, breaker strip member and spacer members to inturned edgepore tions of the spaced apart walls.`

Another object of the inventionis to provide a breaker strip member which allows for variations and warpage of the spaced apart walls of the refrigerator cabinet. i

Another object of theinventionis to provide a breaker strip member which is neat in appearance, simple in structure, economical to manufacture, and easy to assemble and disassemble.

These and other objectsv of the invention and the various features and details of the construction thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational View of a refrigerator cabinet which embodies the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary. view of a 7 portion of the wall construction of the cabinet of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a perspective view of the clip member f* of Fig. 3 in its free position.

\ Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the Iclip member in depressed position.

Fig. '6 is a perspective view showing the clip member being inserted into a slot provided in an f inturned ange.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the clip member in assembled position.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, a refrigerator cabinet II] is 'y shown having a door II connected thereto by va U-shaped channel I6 which comprises an outer leg or extension I1, an inner leg or extension I8 and a connecting portion I9. Spaced within the outer shell I5 is a metallic innerV shell 20 which encloses the food storagecompartment I3, the edge portions of which are bent outwardly around the door opening into anoutturned ange 2I which is located in approximately the same plane as inner extension !81 of channel I6.

Y Fixedly secured to each corner of inner shell 20 is a bracket 22 to which a support member 23 is secured by screws 24 as illustrated in Fig. 1.- The oppositely disposed ends of the supports 23 are attached to theinner extension i8' of channel I6 in any suitable manner so rthat the inner shell 20 is secured in positionv within the outer shell I5. :insulating materiai 25 is disposed between the aofi-4,66?

3 spaced apart walls of the inner shell 20 and outer shell I5, and as seen in Fig. 3, the insulating material terminates in substantially the same plane in which flange 2| and inner extension I8 are located.

Inturned flange 2| and inner extension I8 of channel I6 are provided with extensions 26 and 21 respectively which are spaced around the door opening at regular intervals. Each extension is provided with an elongated slot 28 therethrough into which a clip member 29 is positioned and secured. Located proximate the extensions 26 and 21 are spacer members 30, each one having elongated slots 3| which are positioned in align-` ment with slots 28 and through which clip members 29 extend. The clip members 29 secure the spacer members 30 to the flange 2| and channel I6 so that the spacer members will maintain the flange and channel in evenly spaced relationship around the door opening and will prevent any misalignment thereof. The spacer members 30 are constructed from a heat insulating material. inv order to prevent transfer of heat from the outer shell I to inner shell 20.

Each clip member 29 is bent fromsheet metal or other resilient material into the form best shown in Figs. 4-'1 inclusive, comprising anV en- The outer edge of leg 31 is bent slightlyV downwardly in order to form a iiange 40. The clip member 29 is bent upwardly 4from. base 34,y` into a second neck portion 4I, then outwardly into an extension portion 42 and then at approximately 135 degrees into inclined leg 43. The edgeportions 44 and 45 of neck portion 4Iv are bent inwardly to overlie edge portions 38 and 39. Extension portion 42 and inclined leg 43 are substantially the same width as leg 31. The edgeof inclined leg 43V is bent downwardly and then upwardly into a rounded fiange 46.

Fig. 4 illustrates the clip member 29in its free positionvwhereas Fig. 5 showsy the clipmember after it has been deflected so that edge'portionsp38 and 390i neckportion 36 are overlapped completely by edge portions 44 and 45; of neck` portion 4I. The clip member is now ready for insertion into elongated slots 28 and 3| of flange 2| and spacer member 3D as shown in Fig.l6. It is pushed down until leg 31 touches ange 2 I, then rotated ninety degrees to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The base portions 34 and 35 will engage the spacer member 30 and the neck` portions 36 and 4I will spring slightly outwardly into contact with the sides of the slots 28.and 3| so that the spacer member 3D will be held securelyin position and the clip member vwill be prevented from rotating within the slots. A similar clip member 29 is inserted into slot 280i inner extension I8 in the samemanner so that theY opposite end of spacermember 30 is secured to the inner extension.

To complete the wall construction of the cabinet I0, a breaker strip member. 41. is assembled 4 49, bottom portion 50 and side portion 5I which are fitted end to end around the door opening. The breaker strip 41 is constructed from a heat insulating material, such as plastic, and as seen in Fig. 3, the inner edge 52 thereof is curved inwardly toward the inner shell and is provided with any intiirnecl.lv rib 53,. In assembling the breaker strip, cachot the separate portions 48, 49, 50, and 5I is placed in its proper location with the outer edge 54 thereof positioned within channel pocket or groove 55 between channel extension I1 and inclined leg 43 of clip 29, then pushed outwardly until rib 53 is engaged between legs- 3;1A and 43,'ofclip member 29 as seen in Fig. 3. The inclined leg 43'; of the clip members 29, which are secured to channel I6, is deflected inwardly by the breaker strip 54 so that the pressure Y exerted; by the clip member forces the outer edge 54 of the breaker strip against the outer extension. I1 of the channel.` The rib 53- ory the breakerstrip defiectsthe-inclined leg 43 ofthe` clip members 29. secured to flange 2 I outwardly sothat the clip member exertsa pressureagainst.

the rib and forcesAit againstthe flange. The clip members 29- are spaced. at regular intervals and their combinedpressur'e isA greatrenough to hold thebreaker strip securely in position.'

From the foregoing' description it can be seen that a novel breaker, strip construction is provided whicli. incorporates many" desirableY features. In the manufactureof'refrigerator cabi'- netsof the type, illustrated; the insulatingmaterial` is ordinarily inserted; adiacenti theb walls of the outerr shellV beforeV the inner' shellj' is posi;-

tioned therein. Since the edge portions ofthe outer' shell and inner s'hell`` are bent inwardly, the insulating material does not extend'past the bent-in portions, andthe breaker strip should be constructed. as nat ask possible to prevent the formation of a large air space therebelow for theY reasonsexplained heretofore. The present ini vention providesa breaker stripj41 of simple design which can be easily assembledand which encloses only a small air space above the in-V sulating materialV 2,5.. It` blends' in attractively with the refrigeratorV cabinet I0 and acts asv antions of inner she1l'20. and. outer shell I5 will be maintained in spaced relationship around-the door opening. Heretofore it has been common to provide screws, to hold. spacerv members in place and such` a'stiucturehas been a source of. trouble. because of chippage rof the porcelain onthe inner shell during; assembly and because the porcelain tends to ll the screw holeswhich' causes ,assembly difculties. These problems are not encountered in the present`4 invention4 since the clip members 291 can be' easily slipped into the elongated slotsg281even though the porcelain hasbuilt upslightly thereajround: The clip meme bers are Vutilized for the dual purpose of securing the spacer members 3.0 to the walls andv maintaining the breaker strip infposition.

While aparticular embodiment of the invention has hereinv been.i1lustrated'and. described, it is not intended thatthe invention be limited to such disclosure but that' changes andmodifcations` may bemadeand incorporated within the scope ofthe annexed claims.

'What is claimed is: i

1.v in a refrigerator cabinet having a wall with a slot therein to which a breaker strip with a flange thereon is to be mounted, means for mounting said breaker strip to said wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, said material formed with a compressible wedge-shaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of thev end of the wedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularly-shaped neck, leg members comprising a portion of said strip material formed to extend at a right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, a ange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direction, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of the other of said leg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, and a second flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of said arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through said slot, whereby said lower portion, said neck and said leg members will maintain said clip mounted rin said wall, and whereby said flange f said breaker strip is projectible under said arm, whereby said arm will maintain said breaker strip mounted to said wall.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet having a wall with a slot therein to which a spacing member with a slot therein and a breaker strip with a flange thereon is to be mounted, means for mounting said spacing member and said breaker strip to said wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, said strip material formed with a compressible wedge-shaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of the end of the wedge whereby said channelshaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularly-shaped neck, leg members comprising a portion of said strip material formed to extend at a right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, a flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direction, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of the other of said leg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, and a second flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of said arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through said slot in said wall and said slot in said spacing member, whereby vsaid lower portion, said neck, and said leg members will maintain said spacing member mounted to said wall and said clip mounted in said wall, and whereby said flange of said breaker strip is pro jectible under said arm whereby said arm will maintain said breaker strip mounted to said wall.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet having a wall with a pair of slots therein to which a breaker strip is to be mounted, means for mounting said breaker strip to said wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, vsaid strip material formed with a compressible wedgeshaped lower portion having the end of the wedge Y wardly from each side of the end of the wedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularly-shaped neck, leg members comprising f a portion of said strip material formed to extend at a right angle from each of said channelshaped portions, a flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direc,-v

tion, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of the other of said leg members and positioned to form an acuate angle with said leg members, and a second flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end 0f said arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion of .said clip is insertable through one of said slots, whereby said lowerv portion, said neck and said leg members will maintain said clip mounted in said wall, land whereby said breaker strip is projectible into the other of said slots and in cooperation with said arm, whereby said arm will maintain said breaker strip mounted to said wall.

e. ln a refrigerator cabinet having a wall with a pair of slots therein to which a spacing member with a slot therein and a breaker strip is to be mounted, means for mounting said breaker l strip to said wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, said strip material formed with a compressible wedge-shaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of the end of the wedge whereby said chan-y nel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularly-shaped neck, leg members comprising a portion of said 'strip material formed to extend at a right angley from each of `said channel-shaped portions, a flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of saidleg members projecting in a downward direction, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of the other of said leg members andr positioned v to form an acute angle with said leg members, and a second flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of said arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through one of the slots of said wall and said slot of said spacing member, whereby said lower portion, said neck, and said leg members will maintain said spacing member mounted to said wall and said clip mounted in said wall, and whereby said breakerv strip is projectible into the other of the slots of said wall and in cooperation vwith said arm, whereby said arm will maintain said breaker strip mounted to said wall. i

5. In a refrigerator cabinet, an inner wall, the

edge of said inner wall having a liange thereon; a slot in said flange disposed parallelto the edge of said wall, a breaker strip having a flange-thereon,

means for mounting said breaker strip to said inner wall comprising a clip formed of' a resilient strip material, said strip material formed with a compressible wedge-shaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of the end of the wedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularly-shaped neck,

whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through said slot and rotatable through a rightV angle to compress said channel,V leg members 7, comprising-'a portion of said strip material formed to extend at av right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, a flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion, said,` neck, and said leg members maintain saidclip in said slot, an arm formed of a portion ofk said strip material on the end of the other of saidleg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, and a second flange com-iV pris-ing a portion or said strip material onv the end of said arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said flange of said breaker strip is insertable under said arm, whereby said breaker strip is mounted to said inner wall.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet, an inner wall', the edge of said inner wall having a nange thereon, a slot in said flange disposed parallel to the edge of 'said wall, a spacing member with a slot there'- in, a breaker strip having a flange thereon, means for mounting said spacing member and said breaker strip to said inner wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, said strip material formed with a compressible wedgeshaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channelshaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of the end of the wedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rect'angularly-shaped neck, whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through said slot in said flange and through said slot in said spacing member and rotatable through a right angle to compress said channels, leg members comprising a portion of said strip material forme-d to extend at a right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, a flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion, said neck, and said leg members maintain Ysaid spacing member mounted to said inner wall and said clip inA said slot in said wall iiange, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of the other of said leg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, and a second flange comprising a portion of said `strip material on the end of said arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said ange of said breaker strip is insertable under said arm, whereby said breaker strip is mounted to said inner wall.

7. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer wall, a pair of slots mounted adjacently in a iiange on the edgeof said outer wall, a breaker strip, means for mounting said breaker strip to said outer wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, said strip material formed with a compressible wedge-shaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of thev end of the Vwedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularly-shaped neck, whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through one of said slots and rotatable through anangle to compress said channels, leg members comprising a portion of said strip material formed to extend at a right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, a flange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lowerv portion, said neck, and said leg membersl maintain said clipk in said one slot, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of the other of said leg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, anda second iiange comprising a portion of said strip material on the end of said -arm projecting in a downward direction, whereby said breaker strip is insertable into the other of said slots and in cooperation with said arm, whereby said breaker strip is mounted' to said outer wall'.

8. In a, refrigerator cabinet, an outer wall, a pair of vslots mounted adjacently in a flange on the edge of said outer wall, a spacing member having a slot therein, a rbreaker strip, means for mounting said spacing member and said breaker strip to said outer wall comprising a clip formed of a resilient strip material, said strip material formed with a compressible Wedge-shaped lower portion having the end of the wedge partially open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material exten-ding upwardly from each side of the end of the wedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed to form a rectangularlyshaped neck, whereby said lower portion of said clip is insertable through one of said slots in said flange of said wall and through said slot in sai-d spacing member and rotatable through an angle to compress said channels, leg members comprising a portion of said strip material formed to extend at a right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, a flange compris ing a portion ofl said strip material on the end of one of said leg members projecting in a downward direction, whereby said lower portion, said neck, and said leg membersmaintain said spacing member mounted to said outer wall and said clip in said one slot in said ange on said outer wall, an arm formed of a portion of said strip material on the end ofthe other of said leg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, and a second'flange comprising a portion of said stri'p material on the end of said armA projecting in a downward direction, whereby said breaker strip is insertable into the other of said slots in said ange on said outer wall and in'cooperation with said arm, whereby said breaker stripV is mounted to said outer wall.

9. In a refrigerator cabinet, inner and outer' spaced apart walls, the edge of said inner wall having a ange thereon with a slot therein, the edge of said outer Wall having a flange thereon with a pair of slots therein, a spacing member having a pair of slots` therein, a breaker strip having a flange on one edge thereof, means for mounting said breaker strip to said inner and outer walls comprisinga pair ofv clips each formed of a resilient strip material, 'said' strip material formed'with a compressible wedge-shaped lower portion having, the end of the wedge partiallyV open, a neck comprising channel-shaped portions of said strip material extending upwardly from each side of 'the end of the Wedge whereby said channel-shaped portions cooperate when said wedge is compressed tol form a rectangularlyshaped neck, whereby the* lower portion of one ofsaidv clipsY isv insertable through said slot in said ange on` said inner wall andv through one of said 'slots in'said'spacng member and'rotatable through a right anglel toV compress said channels and whereby said lowery portion of the other of said clips'` is insertable through one of` said slots in said flange on said outer wall and through the other of said slots in said spacing member and rotatable through a right angle to compress said channels, leg members on each of said clips comprising a portion of said strip material formed to extend at a right angle from each of said channel-shaped portions, whereby said lower portion, said neck and said leg members of said clips maintain said spacing member mounted to said inner and outer walls and maintain said clips in said slots in said flanges on said inner and outer walls, an arm on each of said clips formed of a portion of said strip material on the end of one of said leg members and positioned to form an acute angle with said leg members, whereby said flange of said breaker strip is insertable under said arm of said clip mounted in said inner Wall and whereby said breaker strip is insertable into the other of said slots in said flange on said outer wall and in cooperation with the arm of said clip mounted in said outer wall, whereby said breaker strip is mounted to said inner and outer walls.

LESTER H. HINKEL.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,084,717 Wily June 22, 1937 2,329,754 Goulooze Sept. 21, 1943 2,343,447 Drake Mar. 7, 1944 2,349,420 Goulooze May 23, 1944 2,367,886 Nauert Jan. 23, 1945 2,386,387 Drake Oct. 9, 1945 2,484,584 Petkwitz Oct. 11, 1949 

